More Help For Hampshire's Homeless

A scheme which has helped over 800 homeless people in the South East into private rented accommodation since 2010 is set to be expanded.

The programme run by Crisis has been given more than £270,000 of funding.

The schemes recruit and support landlords and offer assistance and advice to tenants on finding suitable accommodation, paying a deposit and rent in advance and help with budgeting and paying bills amongst other services. The programme started in January 2010 and by the end of 2012 a total of 3,917 tenancies had been created by its 120 schemes.

Nationally, the programme will be extended to a further 23 schemes in 2013 to help those who often struggle to find accommodation including young people, ex-offenders and people living in hostels or sleeping rough. In total the schemes aim to create an additional 1,292 tenancies by April 2014.

Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: “To have already helped 4,000 homeless people into decent homes is an incredible achievement for the PRS Access Development Programme and the local organisations working hard to support tenants and landlords. Challenging conditions in the private rented sector make this work difficult but all the more important as people struggle to make ends meet.

“Today’s announcement of funding is for a further 23 schemes that will focus on helping particularly vulnerable people with no home of their own including young people and those leaving prison – groups that too often struggle to find a home and have often not been a priority for assistance through other schemes and programmes”

Housing Minister Mark Prisk said: “This Government has a strong safety net in place to prevent homelessness and Crisis’ Programme has been a vital part of this, helping nearly 4,000 vulnerable people in just two years.

“That’s why today I’m providing 1.2 million to extend that support even further. With another 23 areas on board, the scheme is set to help many more single people at risk of homelessness to find and keep the long-term home they need, providing the safety and security to get their lives back on track. “

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